UTEP vs Bethune-Cookman 9/4/21 College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (0-0) vs. UTEP Miners (1-0)
September 4, 2021 9:00 pm EDT
The Line: UTEP Miners -19.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The UTEP Miners face the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Saturday in week 1 college football action from the Sun Bowl. This will be the first game of the 2021 season for the Wildcats. Bethune-Cookman had no football activity last year, so it’s been a while since we’ve seen them on the field. As for the Miners, they managed to play eight games in 2020, going 3-5 with a basement finish in their division. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
Bethune-Cookman hasn’t played a game since the 2019 season, where they finished 7-4 overall and 5-3 in MEAC play. That finish left the Wildcats in fourth place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings. BCU will join up with the SWAC this season and face some fresh opponents.
This will be Wildcats head coach Terry Sims’ sixth season at the helm, and seeing what he can do in a new conference will certainly be interesting. He’ll get a few key contributors back after the pause, including tight end Taron Mallard—the leading returning receiver.
Over on the UTEP side, they managed to play eight games last year and went 3-5 overall with an ugly 0-4 Conference USA record. That mark left the Miners in last place in the West Division, two games behind Southern Miss.
The season started out well enough for UTEP, as they bagged wins over Stephen F. Austin, Abilene Christian and LA-Monroe in the first four games. Four straight losses came afterward however; UTEP fell to LA Tech, Charlotte, UTSA and North Texas in succession.
Check back for the current trends in this matchup once they’re released.
PICK: I’m going to take a stab on UTEP. The Miners put up averages of 348 yards and 23 points last season, and that’s certainly not going to get it done if they’re looking to improve. The good news is that the running game was okay, and the team gets back a few key names who will help in that regard. Lead rusher Deion Hankins (592 yards; nine TDs) is back this season, and he’s got some help behind him on the depth chart. Jacob Cowling and Justin Garrett will be back for receiving help, so if the Miners can find some consistent QB play we should see a few wins this year.
